There are still 53 countries which drive on the left hand side of the road. The most notable of these being the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and countries on the Indian sub-continent. In addition, many Caribbean islands and African countries such as South Africa, Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, to name a few, drive on the left.
Obviously, problems arise when people who are used to driving on the left visit a country which drives on the right and vice versa. If you rent a car, all the controls will be on the opposite side to what you’re used to but in fact, this concentrates the mind to such an extent that driving on the correct side of the road is the least of your worries.
Probably the most difficult and dangerous driving transition is when holiday makers from Ireland or the UK visit continental Europe or the other way round. Invariably, they take their own vehicle and drive onto a ferry or the Eurostar Channel Tunnel train from one side of the road and when they get to the other end, they suddenly have to drive on the other side. In addition, you now have the difficulties of your steering wheel being on the wrong side of the car, making overtaking and other such manoeuvres rather problematical.
Following the tips below will make the transition to the other side of the road much easier.
Roundabouts and traffic islands - Go with the flow. These things are designed so that you really shouldn’t be able to even start going the wrong way around them. The road leading to the roundabout should be angled in such a way that it will be a real effort to go the wrong way, so just follow the natural line of the road.
Joining a main road from a side road - This is easy if there’s traffic on the road already - just follow it in the direction you want to go. If the road is apparently empty, stop and think. Remember which country you’re in, then look carefully in both directions. One of the major causes of serious accidents among foreign drivers is that they only look in one direction and it’s the wrong one for the country they’re in. You may be used to looking to the right when you want to turn left in the UK because you don’t have to cross a carriageway, but in Spain or the USA, you will be crossing the nose of traffic coming from your left, so look both ways, preferably several times.
Turning into a side road from a main road - To make certain you turn onto the correct side of the side road, it’s another occasion for actively remembering which country you’re driving in.
Traffic lights - In the USA and some parts of continental Europe, even when the main traffic lights are red, you will often encounter flashing amber lights signifying that you can filter in to the right turn, if there’s no traffic coming. In the UK, it is rare that you can filter to the left but if you can, there will usually be a left hand arrow which will actually be green or, less often, flashing amber.
Motorway driving - Until you’re used to it, stay in the inside lane and make sure you’re aware of where the inside lane actually is. If the country drives on the right, it will be on the right, and the other way around.
Overtaking - If you have front seat passenger that you trust, get them to peak out and see if it’s safe to pull out and overtake. If you don’t, and your visibility is fair because the vehicle in front is a normal size, inch out a little way for a look. If it’s clear, put your foot down. If you’re following a large vehicle such as a lorry, forget it if the oncoming traffic is quite heavy. Otherwise, you might wait for a bend so that you can see what the oncoming traffic is like but if in doubt, just don’t do it. Be patient, your opportunity will come.
Danger areas - Believe it or not, the most likely places where a motorist will forget which side of the road to drive on are (a) coming out of a service (gas/petrol) station and (b) leaving a parking space at the side of the road, particularly in rural areas and small towns. Be extra vigilant here.
If you drive abroad with a friend or spouse, make sure that they know it’s alright to shout at you if they see that you’re about to drive on the wrong side of the road. Swallow your pride and admit that you may get it wrong some time and if they notice something amiss, they should say so without delay. It could save both your lives!
Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Driving Tips
There was once a time when hybrids were restricted to the Hollywood crowd and
college professors. However, over the last 6 years hybrids have become widely
popular and can now be found in garages of everyday people. As the hybrid market
continues to grow so too will the used hybrid market. What should you know about
buying a used hybrid? Read on.
The basics
Buying a used hybrid is like buying any other used car. Well, sort of. The biggest
concern when buying a used hybrid is finding out the condition of the battery pack.
These battery packs can easily cost in excess of $5000 to replace. To ease the
concern of new buyers, manufacturers put an extended warranty on the battery
pack, hybrid control module, battery control module and other related components.
The warranty on these components is usually 8 years or 100,000 miles. You’ll want
to confirm that the warranty is transferable if it has not already expired. Just like a
regular used car, it’s not wise to buy a used vehicle that is from the first year of
production for that particular model.
Where to buy a used hybrid
Just like buying a regular used car, there are three typical channels where the
average consumer will find a hybrid car. First you have certified pre-owned
programs at new car dealerships. Secondly, there are used car lots that are not
affiliated with a manufacturer; finally there are private sellers.
The best place to buy a hybrid is through a certified pre-owned program offered
through a new car dealership. Toyota, GM, Honda, Ford and others have these
programs. Although they typically cost more, vehicles from these CPO programs
must undergo an extensive inspection in order to be sold through the dealership.
Cars that fail these inspections end up on independent used car lots. CPO programs
offer better warranties and often come with an exchange option if you’re not happy
with your purchase. Private sellers will offer the cheapest price but you have no
recourse if something goes wrong.
Maintenance and repairs
Beyond regular oil changes and maintenance, most repairs should be done at the
dealership. These technicians are factory trained and certified to work on hybrids.
Other garages won’t have the equipment or experience to accurately diagnose and
fix a mechanical problem on a hybrid. To avoid any hassles, make sure you live in
the area of the dealership. Nobody likes taking a day off to get their car repaired. To
achieve the best mileage, hybrids come equipped with unique low rolling resistance
tires. As the second owner, you’ll need to replace these tires at some point if they
haven’t already been replaced.
So is buying a used hybrid right for you? Well, that’s a question only you can
answer. Overall, it’ll likely cost more to buy than a typical used car but you’ll save
money on fuel. Get out your solar powered calculator but always remember you get
what you paid for.
Peter Johnson is chief writer for http://www.all-about-car-selection.com.
Offering a 3.5 liter V6 engine with 24 valves is the 2006 Acura
RL which is a luxury sedan. With this kind of engine installed
in this vehicle, the 2006 Acura RL has the capacity to take up
to 225 horsepower at 5200 rpm. The 2006 Acura RL has been made
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2006 Acura RL could be very much compared to and compete with
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The 2006 Acura RL also has a
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giving this kind of option. The front passenger seat on the
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per its passenger’s preferences and liking. More features for
seating includes heated front seats, a Burled camphor wood trim,
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enough for good support that would never give its passengers a
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springs that have been specially designed with computers so as
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This vehicle has been crafted and manufactured using
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outside mirrors with driver recognition and an independent
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as to provide progressive illumination, and a flush junction
between the side glass and B-pillars. The 2006 Acura RL also
contains an electronically controlled, speed-sensing, variable
power-assist rack and pinion steering, along with high quality
aluminum-alloy wheels. Part of the whole
system for this vehicle are four-wheel anti-lock braking system
with Electronic Brake Distribution, Vehicle Stability Assist
with traction control, and Xenon High-Intensity Discharge
headlights with Active Front Lighting System.
The 2006 Acura RL provides a more power and fuel efficient
engine that creates an innovative and distinct power for this
vehicle. It also provides assistance systems and a wide range of
safety features for its passengers. This kind of vehicle needs
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this is where Auto Parts Discount comes in. This online store
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performance parts, and accessories. Customers can choose Acura parts from Auto
Parts Discount’s online store at Auto Parts Discount. This collection of Acura
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